Re: [Paddlewise] Flying in Alaska

>Ron,
>
>Some questions generated by what you wrote in response to a Paddlewise post:
>
>>Other option, there are a number of  bush flying
>>companies that will do a external load.  Most the locals here use
>>nonfolding boats. They just strap them to the floats of the plane.  Hard
>>shells are available to rent.
>
>I was under the impression that it was illegal to fly outside loads on a
>plane carrying passengers in Alaska.  Actually in the whole US.  One
>outfitter I know (on Kodiak Island) said that it is legal if the plane was
>oufitted with special factory installed brackets -- but the same brackets
>installed later (retrofit, not factory installed during plane manufacture)
>would not make the plane legal for outside load use.
>
>Do you have any more knowledge of this?
>
>>Lot of the Anchorage boaters like using Susitna Air or Willow Air out of
>>Willow, about 90 miles north Anchorage.There are carriers out of Anchorage
>>but we all prefer to drive the 90 miles because their pilots are some of
>>the best in Alaska and you can count on them.  They also do external loads.
>
>I've always avoided paddling in Alaska because of this supposed no outside
>load rule.  Which has been supposedly confirmed to me by other outfitters,
>by the way.  What's the deal?  Who can I talk to besides the FAA for "real"
>info?
>
>Thanks,
>
>Hank Hays

Both Susitna Air 907-495-6789  or Willow Air 907-495-6370 out of Willow
will fly with passengers.  I been told it also has to do with what the the
load is, I'm not sure as to what the FAA rules are but these carries said
that most carries just interpret what it says wrong.  FAA does inspect
these carries and they been doing it for as long as I can remember. I'm
sure if  you called around you would find others. Some carries we've flown
with that would not fly passengers would still take one passenger to help
unload the load.  Which has also always worked for us because most of our
trips we always have 2 flights of more, but one has to wonder if the
carries are just not carrying passengers just to get a extra flight out of
you.

If you call FAA up here they will send you a list with all the commercial
carriers names and address here in Alaska.

It would also depend on where you want to fly to as to what carry you would
use.  If your going to some interior part of Alaska for example Forty Mile
Air (907) 883-5191 flies Otters and kayaks and small canoes will go inside
the plane. Good starting point would be to also contact guide services that
operate in the area you want to go, most are more then happy to answer
question to who they fly with and what to expect.

Susitna Air and Willow Air are flying Beavers, when figuring out how many
trips we usually count on a flight for every 3 passengers with gear.
Susitna on one trip flew in for us 4 passengers, 4 kayaks, 2 canoes, and
some gear inside in one fly, On next flight flew in a raft, frame cooler,
all the dry bags and 3 passenger.  We are allso are doing commercial trips
so have extra gear and food, if you pack light less flights. A beaver will
take 8 passengers with a few small bags.


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